Scripture Unscriptedhttps://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted
[No Web Browser Description property found for scripture-unscripted]Luke 2:8-200112<p>Luke 2:8-20&nbsp;</p>
<p>8&nbsp;In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.&nbsp;9&nbsp;Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.&nbsp;10&nbsp;But the angel said to them, &ldquo;Do not be afraid; for see&mdash;I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:&nbsp;11&nbsp;to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,the Lord.&nbsp;12&nbsp;This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.&rdquo;&nbsp;13&nbsp;And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,&nbsp;praising God and saying,</p>
<div>
<p>14&nbsp;&ldquo;Glory to God in the highest heaven,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and on earth peace among those whom he favors!&rdquo;</p>
</div>
<p>15&nbsp;When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, &ldquo;Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.&rdquo;&nbsp;16&nbsp;So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.&nbsp;17&nbsp;When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;&nbsp;18&nbsp;and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.&nbsp;19&nbsp;But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.&nbsp;20&nbsp;The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0112
Sat, 15 Dec 2018 21:21:47 -0600John 16:25-330111<p>John 16:25-33</p>
<p>25&nbsp;&ldquo;I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father.&nbsp;26&nbsp;On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf;&nbsp;27&nbsp;for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.&nbsp;28&nbsp;I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.&rdquo;</p>
<p>29&nbsp;His disciples said, &ldquo;Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech!&nbsp;30&nbsp;Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.&rdquo;&nbsp;31&nbsp;Jesus answered them, &ldquo;Do you now believe?&nbsp;32&nbsp;The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.&nbsp;33&nbsp;I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!&rdquo;</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0111
Sun, 09 Dec 2018 15:56:47 -0600Isaiah 61:1-40110<div class="version-NRSV result-text-style-normal text-html " style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<h1>Isaiah 61:1-4&nbsp;New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)</h1>
<h3>The Good News of Deliverance</h3>
<div>
<p>61&nbsp;The spirit of the Lord&nbsp;God&nbsp;is upon me,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;because the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;has anointed me;<br />
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;to bind up the brokenhearted,<br />
to proclaim liberty to the captives,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and release to the prisoners;<br />
2&nbsp;to proclaim the year of the&nbsp;Lord&rsquo;s favor,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and the day of vengeance of our God;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;to comfort all who mourn;<br />
3&nbsp;to provide for those who mourn in Zion&mdash;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;to give them a garland instead of ashes,<br />
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.<br />
They will be called oaks of righteousness,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;the planting of the&nbsp;Lord, to display his glory.<br />
4&nbsp;They shall build up the ancient ruins,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;they shall raise up the former devastations;<br />
they shall repair the ruined cities,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;the devastations of many generations.</p>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0110
Fri, 30 Nov 2018 10:30:24 -0600Luke 17:11-190109<p>Luke 17:11-19</p>
<p>11&nbsp;On the way to Jerusalem Jesus&nbsp;was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee.&nbsp;12&nbsp;As he entered a village, ten lepers&nbsp;approached him. Keeping their distance,&nbsp;13&nbsp;they called out, saying, &ldquo;Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!&rdquo;&nbsp;14&nbsp;When he saw them, he said to them, &ldquo;Go and show yourselves to the priests.&rdquo; And as they went, they were made clean.&nbsp;15&nbsp;Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice.&nbsp;16&nbsp;He prostrated himself at Jesus&rsquo;&nbsp;feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.&nbsp;17&nbsp;Then Jesus asked, &ldquo;Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?&nbsp;18&nbsp;Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?&rdquo;&nbsp;19&nbsp;Then he said to him, &ldquo;Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.&rdquo;</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0109
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 08:45:10 -0600Mark 7:1-8, 9-230108<p>Mark 7:1-8</p>
<p>7&nbsp;Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him,&nbsp;2&nbsp;they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them.&nbsp;3&nbsp;(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands,&nbsp;thus observing the tradition of the elders;&nbsp;4&nbsp;and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it;&nbsp;and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.)&nbsp;5&nbsp;So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, &ldquo;Why do your disciples not live&nbsp;according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?&rdquo;&nbsp;6&nbsp;He said to them, &ldquo;Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,</p>
<div>
<p>&lsquo;This people honors me with their lips,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;but their hearts are far from me;<br />
7&nbsp;in vain do they worship me,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;teaching human precepts as doctrines.&rsquo;</p>
</div>
<p>8&nbsp;You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.&rdquo;</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0108
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 08:41:50 -0600Acts 11:1-180107<p>Acts 11:1-18&nbsp;</p>
<p>11&nbsp;Now the apostles and the believers&nbsp;who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God.&nbsp;2&nbsp;So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers&nbsp;criticized him,&nbsp;3&nbsp;saying, &ldquo;Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?&rdquo;&nbsp;4&nbsp;Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying,&nbsp;5&nbsp;&ldquo;I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me.&nbsp;6&nbsp;As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air.&nbsp;7&nbsp;I also heard a voice saying to me, &lsquo;Get up, Peter; kill and eat.&rsquo;&nbsp;8&nbsp;But I replied, &lsquo;By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.&rsquo;&nbsp;9&nbsp;But a second time the voice answered from heaven, &lsquo;What God has made clean, you must not call profane.&rsquo;&nbsp;10&nbsp;This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven.&nbsp;11&nbsp;At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were.&nbsp;12&nbsp;The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us.&nbsp;These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man&rsquo;s house.&nbsp;13&nbsp;He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, &lsquo;Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter;&nbsp;14&nbsp;he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.&rsquo;&nbsp;15&nbsp;And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning.&nbsp;16&nbsp;And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, &lsquo;John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.&rsquo;&nbsp;17&nbsp;If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?&rdquo;&nbsp;18&nbsp;When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, &ldquo;Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.&rdquo;</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0107
Fri, 09 Nov 2018 15:25:46 -0600Matthew 15:21-280106<p>Matthew 15:21-28</p>
<p>21&nbsp;Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon.&nbsp;22&nbsp;Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, &ldquo;Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.&rdquo;&nbsp;23&nbsp;But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, &ldquo;Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.&rdquo;&nbsp;24&nbsp;He answered, &ldquo;I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.&rdquo;&nbsp;25&nbsp;But she came and knelt before him, saying, &ldquo;Lord, help me.&rdquo;&nbsp;26&nbsp;He answered, &ldquo;It is not fair to take the children&rsquo;s food and throw it to the dogs.&rdquo;&nbsp;27&nbsp;She said, &ldquo;Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters&rsquo; table.&rdquo;&nbsp;28&nbsp;Then Jesus answered her, &ldquo;Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.&rdquo; And her daughter was healed instantly.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0106
Mon, 05 Nov 2018 08:14:27 -0600Jonah 3:1-4:40105<p>Jonah 3:1-4:4</p>
<p>3&nbsp;The word of the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;came to Jonah a second time, saying,&nbsp;2&nbsp;&ldquo;Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.&rdquo;&nbsp;3&nbsp;So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the&nbsp;Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days&rsquo; walk across.&nbsp;4&nbsp;Jonah began to go into the city, going a day&rsquo;s walk. And he cried out, &ldquo;Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!&rdquo;&nbsp;5&nbsp;And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.</p>
<p>6&nbsp;When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.&nbsp;7&nbsp;Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh: &ldquo;By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not feed, nor shall they drink water.&nbsp;8&nbsp;Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands.&nbsp;9&nbsp;Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish.&rdquo;</p>
<p>10&nbsp;When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.</p>
<p>4&nbsp;But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry.&nbsp;2&nbsp;He prayed to the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;and said, &ldquo;O&nbsp;Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.&nbsp;3&nbsp;And now, O&nbsp;Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.&rdquo;&nbsp;4&nbsp;And the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;said, &ldquo;Is it right for you to be angry?&rdquo;</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0105
Fri, 26 Oct 2018 10:58:36 -0500Romans 14:1-230104<p>Romans 14</p>
<p>14&nbsp;Welcome those who are weak in faith,&nbsp;but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions.&nbsp;2&nbsp;Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables.&nbsp;3&nbsp;Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them.&nbsp;4&nbsp;Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord&nbsp;is able to make them stand.</p>
<p>5&nbsp;Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds.&nbsp;6&nbsp;Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.</p>
<p>7&nbsp;We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves.&nbsp;8&nbsp;If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord&rsquo;s.&nbsp;9&nbsp;For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.</p>
<p>10&nbsp;Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister?&nbsp;Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister?&nbsp;For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.&nbsp;11&nbsp;For it is written,</p>
<div>
<p>&ldquo;As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and every tongue shall give praise to&nbsp;God.&rdquo;</p>
</div>
<p>12&nbsp;So then, each of us will be accountable to God.</p>
<p>13&nbsp;Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another.&nbsp;14&nbsp;I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.&nbsp;15&nbsp;If your brother or sister&nbsp;is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died.&nbsp;16&nbsp;So do not let your good be spoken of as evil.&nbsp;17&nbsp;For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.&nbsp;18&nbsp;The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval.&nbsp;19&nbsp;Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.&nbsp;20&nbsp;Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what you eat;&nbsp;21&nbsp;it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister&nbsp;stumble.&nbsp;22&nbsp;The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve.&nbsp;23&nbsp;But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith;&nbsp;for whatever does not proceed from faith&nbsp;is sin.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0104
Fri, 19 Oct 2018 13:27:39 -0500John 14:15-270103<p>John 14:15-27&nbsp;</p>
<p>15&nbsp;&ldquo;If you love me, you will keep&nbsp;my commandments.&nbsp;16&nbsp;And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,&nbsp;to be with you forever.&nbsp;17&nbsp;This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in&nbsp;you.</p>
<p>18&nbsp;&ldquo;I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.&nbsp;19&nbsp;In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.&nbsp;20&nbsp;On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.&nbsp;21&nbsp;They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.&rdquo;&nbsp;22&nbsp;Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, &ldquo;Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?&rdquo;&nbsp;23&nbsp;Jesus answered him, &ldquo;Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.&nbsp;24&nbsp;Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.</p>
<p>25&nbsp;&ldquo;I have said these things to you while I am still with you.&nbsp;26&nbsp;But the Advocate,the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.&nbsp;27&nbsp;Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0103
Mon, 15 Oct 2018 10:35:12 -05002 Thessalonians 2:13-16102<p>2 Thessalonians 2:13-16&nbsp;</p>
<p>13&nbsp;But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters&nbsp;beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits&nbsp;for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.&nbsp;14&nbsp;For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news,&nbsp;so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.&nbsp;15&nbsp;So then, brothers and sisters,&nbsp;stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.</p>
<p>16&nbsp;Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope,</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/102
Fri, 05 Oct 2018 09:47:40 -05001 Corinthians 14:34-35; Galatians 3:23-28101<p>1 Corinthians 14:34-35&nbsp;</p>
<p>34&nbsp;women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says.&nbsp;35&nbsp;If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.</p>
<p>Galatians 3:23-28&nbsp;</p>
<p>23&nbsp;Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed.&nbsp;24&nbsp;Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith.&nbsp;25&nbsp;But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,&nbsp;26&nbsp;for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.&nbsp;27&nbsp;As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.&nbsp;28&nbsp;There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/101
Fri, 28 Sep 2018 11:31:23 -0500Ecclesiastes 9:1-12100<p>Ecclesiastes 9:1-12</p>
<p>9&nbsp;All this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hate one does not know. Everything that confronts them&nbsp;2&nbsp;is vanity,&nbsp;since the same fate comes to all, to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil,&nbsp;to the clean and the unclean, to those who sacrifice and those who do not sacrifice. As are the good, so are the sinners; those who swear are like those who shun an oath.&nbsp;3&nbsp;This is an evil in all that happens under the sun, that the same fate comes to everyone. Moreover, the hearts of all are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.&nbsp;4&nbsp;But whoever is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.&nbsp;5&nbsp;The living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no more reward, and even the memory of them is lost.&nbsp;6&nbsp;Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished; never again will they have any share in all that happens under the sun.</p>
<p>7&nbsp;Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has long ago approved what you do.&nbsp;8&nbsp;Let your garments always be white; do not let oil be lacking on your head.&nbsp;9&nbsp;Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that are given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.&nbsp;10&nbsp;Whatever your hand finds to do, do with your might; for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.</p>
<p>11&nbsp;Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the skillful; but time and chance happen to them all.&nbsp;12&nbsp;For no one can anticipate the time of disaster. Like fish taken in a cruel net, and like birds caught in a snare, so mortals are snared at a time of calamity, when it suddenly falls upon them.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/100
Thu, 20 Sep 2018 14:58:43 -0500Ecclesiastes 7:1-240099<p>Ecclesiastes 7:1-24&nbsp;</p>
<div>
<p>7&nbsp;A good name is better than precious ointment,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and the day of death, than the day of birth.<br />
2&nbsp;It is better to go to the house of mourning<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;than to go to the house of feasting;<br />
for this is the end of everyone,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and the living will lay it to heart.<br />
3&nbsp;Sorrow is better than laughter,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad.<br />
4&nbsp;The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.<br />
5&nbsp;It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;than to hear the song of fools.<br />
6&nbsp;For like the crackling of thorns under a pot,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;so is the laughter of fools;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;this also is vanity.<br />
7&nbsp;Surely oppression makes the wise foolish,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and a bribe corrupts the heart.<br />
8&nbsp;Better is the end of a thing than its beginning;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;the patient in spirit are better than the proud in spirit.<br />
9&nbsp;Do not be quick to anger,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.<br />
10&nbsp;Do not say, &ldquo;Why were the former days better than these?&rdquo;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.<br />
11&nbsp;Wisdom is as good as an inheritance,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;an advantage to those who see the sun.<br />
12&nbsp;For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to the one who possesses it.<br />
13&nbsp;Consider the work of God;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;who can make straight what he has made crooked?</p>
</div>
<p>14&nbsp;In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one as well as the other, so that mortals may not find out anything that will come after them.</p>
<p>15&nbsp;In my vain life I have seen everything; there are righteous people who perish in their righteousness, and there are wicked people who prolong their life in their evildoing.&nbsp;16&nbsp;Do not be too righteous, and do not act too wise; why should you destroy yourself?&nbsp;17&nbsp;Do not be too wicked, and do not be a fool; why should you die before your time?&nbsp;18&nbsp;It is good that you should take hold of the one, without letting go of the other; for the one who fears God shall succeed with both.</p>
<p>19&nbsp;Wisdom gives strength to the wise more than ten rulers that are in a city.</p>
<p>20&nbsp;Surely there is no one on earth so righteous as to do good without ever sinning.</p>
<p>21&nbsp;Do not give heed to everything that people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you;&nbsp;22&nbsp;your heart knows that many times you have yourself cursed others.</p>
<p>23&nbsp;All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, &ldquo;I will be wise,&rdquo; but it was far from me.&nbsp;24&nbsp;That which is, is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0099
Fri, 14 Sep 2018 11:43:26 -0500Ecclesiastes 4:1-120098<p>Ecclesiastes 4:1-12</p>
<p>4&nbsp;Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed&mdash;with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power&mdash;with no one to comfort them.&nbsp;2&nbsp;And I thought the dead, who have already died, more fortunate than the living, who are still alive;&nbsp;3&nbsp;but better than both is the one who has not yet been, and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.</p>
<p>4&nbsp;Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person&rsquo;s envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.</p>
<div>
<p>5&nbsp;Fools fold their hands<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and consume their own flesh.<br />
6&nbsp;Better is a handful with quiet<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;than two handfuls with toil,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and a chasing after wind.</p>
</div>
<p>7&nbsp;Again, I saw vanity under the sun:&nbsp;8&nbsp;the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. &ldquo;For whom am I toiling,&rdquo; they ask, &ldquo;and depriving myself of pleasure?&rdquo; This also is vanity and an unhappy business.</p>
<p>9&nbsp;Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.&nbsp;10&nbsp;For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help.&nbsp;11&nbsp;Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?&nbsp;12&nbsp;And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0098
Fri, 07 Sep 2018 11:41:19 -0500Ecclesiastes 3:1-220097<div>
<p>Ecclesiastes 3</p>
<p>3&nbsp;For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:</p>
<div>
<p>2&nbsp;a time to be born, and a time to die;<br />
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;<br />
3&nbsp;a time to kill, and a time to heal;<br />
a time to break down, and a time to build up;<br />
4&nbsp;a time to weep, and a time to laugh;<br />
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;<br />
5&nbsp;a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;<br />
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;<br />
6&nbsp;a time to seek, and a time to lose;<br />
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;<br />
7&nbsp;a time to tear, and a time to sew;<br />
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;<br />
8&nbsp;a time to love, and a time to hate;<br />
a time for war, and a time for peace.</p>
</div>
<p>9&nbsp;What gain have the workers from their toil?&nbsp;10&nbsp;I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with.&nbsp;11&nbsp;He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.&nbsp;12&nbsp;I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live;&nbsp;13&nbsp;moreover, it is God&rsquo;s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.&nbsp;14&nbsp;I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him.&nbsp;15&nbsp;That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already is; and God seeks out what has gone by.</p>
<p>16&nbsp;Moreover I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there as well.&nbsp;17&nbsp;I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for he has appointed a time for every matter, and for every work.&nbsp;18&nbsp;I said in my heart with regard to human beings that God is testing them to show that they are but animals.&nbsp;19&nbsp;For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over the animals; for all is vanity.&nbsp;20&nbsp;All go to one place; all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.&nbsp;21&nbsp;Who knows whether the human spirit goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth?&nbsp;22&nbsp;So I saw that there is nothing better than that all should enjoy their work, for that is their lot; who can bring them to see what will be after them?</p>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0097
Fri, 31 Aug 2018 14:18:48 -0500Ecclesiastes 2:1-260096<p>Ecclesiastes 2&nbsp;</p>
<p>2&nbsp;I said to myself, &ldquo;Come now, I will make a test of pleasure; enjoy yourself.&rdquo; But again, this also was vanity.&nbsp;2&nbsp;I said of laughter, &ldquo;It is mad,&rdquo; and of pleasure, &ldquo;What use is it?&rdquo;&nbsp;3&nbsp;I searched with my mind how to cheer my body with wine&mdash;my mind still guiding me with wisdom&mdash;and how to lay hold on folly, until I might see what was good for mortals to do under heaven during the few days of their life.&nbsp;4&nbsp;I made great works; I built houses and planted vineyards for myself;&nbsp;5&nbsp;I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees.&nbsp;6&nbsp;I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees.&nbsp;7&nbsp;I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house; I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem.&nbsp;8&nbsp;I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I got singers, both men and women, and delights of the flesh, and many concubines.</p>
<p>9&nbsp;So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me.&nbsp;10&nbsp;Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them; I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.&nbsp;11&nbsp;Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and again, all was vanity and a chasing after wind,&nbsp;and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.</p>
<p>12&nbsp;So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the one do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.&nbsp;13&nbsp;Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.</p>
<div>
<p>14&nbsp;The wise have eyes in their head,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;but fools walk in darkness.</p>
</div>
<p>Yet I perceived that the same fate befalls all of them.&nbsp;15&nbsp;Then I said to myself, &ldquo;What happens to the fool will happen to me also; why then have I been so very wise?&rdquo; And I said to myself that this also is vanity.&nbsp;16&nbsp;For there is no enduring remembrance of the wise or of fools, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How can the wise die just like fools?&nbsp;17&nbsp;So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.</p>
<p>18&nbsp;I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me&nbsp;19&nbsp;&mdash;and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.&nbsp;20&nbsp;So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun,&nbsp;21&nbsp;because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.&nbsp;22&nbsp;What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun?&nbsp;23&nbsp;For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.</p>
<p>24&nbsp;There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God;&nbsp;25&nbsp;for apart from him&nbsp;who can eat or who can have enjoyment?&nbsp;26&nbsp;For to the one who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0096
Fri, 24 Aug 2018 09:04:52 -0500Ecclesiastes 1:1-180095<p>Ecclesiastes 1&nbsp;</p>
<p>1&nbsp;The words of the Teacher,&nbsp;the son of David, king in Jerusalem.</p>
<div>
<p>2&nbsp;Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;vanity of vanities! All is vanity.<br />
3&nbsp;What do people gain from all the toil<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;at which they toil under the sun?<br />
4&nbsp;A generation goes, and a generation comes,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;but the earth remains forever.<br />
5&nbsp;The sun rises and the sun goes down,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and hurries to the place where it rises.<br />
6&nbsp;The wind blows to the south,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and goes around to the north;<br />
round and round goes the wind,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and on its circuits the wind returns.<br />
7&nbsp;All streams run to the sea,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;but the sea is not full;<br />
to the place where the streams flow,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;there they continue to flow.<br />
8&nbsp;All things&nbsp;are wearisome;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;more than one can express;<br />
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;or the ear filled with hearing.<br />
9&nbsp;What has been is what will be,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and what has been done is what will be done;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;there is nothing new under the sun.<br />
10&nbsp;Is there a thing of which it is said,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;See, this is new&rdquo;?<br />
It has already been,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;in the ages before us.<br />
11&nbsp;The people of long ago are not remembered,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;nor will there be any remembrance<br />
of people yet to come<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;by those who come after them.</p>
</div>
<p>12&nbsp;I, the Teacher,&nbsp;when king over Israel in Jerusalem,&nbsp;13&nbsp;applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with.&nbsp;14&nbsp;I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.</p>
<div>
<p>15&nbsp;What is crooked cannot be made straight,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and what is lacking cannot be counted.</p>
</div>
<p>16&nbsp;I said to myself, &ldquo;I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.&rdquo;&nbsp;17&nbsp;And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a chasing after wind.</p>
<div>
<p>18&nbsp;For in much wisdom is much vexation,<br />
and those who increase knowledge increase sorrow.</p>
</div>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0095
Thu, 23 Aug 2018 08:59:33 -0500Luke 12:13-310094<p>Luke 12:13-31</p>
<p>13&nbsp;Someone in the crowd said to him, &ldquo;Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.&rdquo;&nbsp;14&nbsp;But he said to him, &ldquo;Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?&rdquo;&nbsp;15&nbsp;And he said to them, &ldquo;Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one&rsquo;s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.&rdquo;&nbsp;16&nbsp;Then he told them a parable: &ldquo;The land of a rich man produced abundantly.&nbsp;17&nbsp;And he thought to himself, &lsquo;What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?&rsquo;&nbsp;18&nbsp;Then he said, &lsquo;I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.&nbsp;19&nbsp;And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.&rsquo;&nbsp;20&nbsp;But God said to him, &lsquo;You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?&rsquo;&nbsp;21&nbsp;So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.&rdquo;</p>
<p>22&nbsp;He said to his disciples, &ldquo;Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.&nbsp;23&nbsp;For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.&nbsp;24&nbsp;Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!&nbsp;25&nbsp;And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?&nbsp;26&nbsp;If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest?&nbsp;27&nbsp;Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;&nbsp;yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.&nbsp;28&nbsp;But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you&mdash;you of little faith!&nbsp;29&nbsp;And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying.&nbsp;30&nbsp;For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.&nbsp;31&nbsp;Instead, strive for his&nbsp;kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0094
Mon, 13 Aug 2018 10:28:12 -0500John 8:2-110093<p>John 8:2-11&nbsp;</p>
<p>2&nbsp;Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them.&nbsp;3&nbsp;The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them,&nbsp;4&nbsp;they said to him, &ldquo;Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.&nbsp;5&nbsp;Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?&rdquo;&nbsp;6&nbsp;They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.&nbsp;7&nbsp;When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, &ldquo;Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.&rdquo;&nbsp;8&nbsp;And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground.&nbsp;9&nbsp;When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.&nbsp;10&nbsp;Jesus straightened up and said to her, &ldquo;Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?&rdquo;&nbsp;11&nbsp;She said, &ldquo;No one, sir.&rdquo;&nbsp;And Jesus said, &ldquo;Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.&rdquo;]]</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0093
Fri, 03 Aug 2018 08:49:12 -0500Mark 9:14-290092<p>Mark 9:14-29</p>
<p>14&nbsp;When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.&nbsp;15&nbsp;When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him.&nbsp;16&nbsp;He asked them, &ldquo;What are you arguing about with them?&rdquo;&nbsp;17&nbsp;Someone from the crowd answered him, &ldquo;Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak;&nbsp;18&nbsp;and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.&rdquo;&nbsp;19&nbsp;He answered them, &ldquo;You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.&rdquo;&nbsp;20&nbsp;And they brought the boy&nbsp;to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy,&nbsp;and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.&nbsp;21&nbsp;Jesus&nbsp;asked the father, &ldquo;How long has this been happening to him?&rdquo; And he said, &ldquo;From childhood.&nbsp;22&nbsp;It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.&rdquo;&nbsp;23&nbsp;Jesus said to him, &ldquo;If you are able!&mdash;All things can be done for the one who believes.&rdquo;&nbsp;24&nbsp;Immediately the father of the child cried out,&nbsp;&ldquo;I believe; help my unbelief!&rdquo;&nbsp;25&nbsp;When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, &ldquo;You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!&rdquo;&nbsp;26&nbsp;After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, &ldquo;He is dead.&rdquo;&nbsp;27&nbsp;But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand.&nbsp;28&nbsp;When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, &ldquo;Why could we not cast it out?&rdquo;&nbsp;29&nbsp;He said to them, &ldquo;This kind can come out only through prayer.&rdquo;</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0092
Fri, 27 Jul 2018 11:14:52 -0500John 9:1-410091<p>John 9&nbsp;</p>
<p>9&nbsp;As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth.&nbsp;2&nbsp;His disciples asked him, &ldquo;Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?&rdquo;&nbsp;3&nbsp;Jesus answered, &ldquo;Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God&rsquo;s works might be revealed in him.&nbsp;4&nbsp;We&nbsp;must work the works of him who sent me&nbsp;while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.&nbsp;5&nbsp;As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.&rdquo;&nbsp;6&nbsp;When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man&rsquo;s eyes,&nbsp;7&nbsp;saying to him, &ldquo;Go, wash in the pool of Siloam&rdquo; (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.&nbsp;8&nbsp;The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, &ldquo;Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?&rdquo;&nbsp;9&nbsp;Some were saying, &ldquo;It is he.&rdquo; Others were saying, &ldquo;No, but it is someone like him.&rdquo; He kept saying, &ldquo;I am the man.&rdquo;&nbsp;10&nbsp;But they kept asking him, &ldquo;Then how were your eyes opened?&rdquo;&nbsp;11&nbsp;He answered, &ldquo;The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, &lsquo;Go to Siloam and wash.&rsquo; Then I went and washed and received my sight.&rdquo;&nbsp;12&nbsp;They said to him, &ldquo;Where is he?&rdquo; He said, &ldquo;I do not know.&rdquo;</p>
<p>13&nbsp;They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.&nbsp;14&nbsp;Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.&nbsp;15&nbsp;Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, &ldquo;He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.&rdquo;&nbsp;16&nbsp;Some of the Pharisees said, &ldquo;This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.&rdquo; But others said, &ldquo;How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?&rdquo; And they were divided.&nbsp;17&nbsp;So they said again to the blind man, &ldquo;What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.&rdquo; He said, &ldquo;He is a prophet.&rdquo;</p>
<p>18&nbsp;The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight&nbsp;19&nbsp;and asked them, &ldquo;Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?&rdquo;&nbsp;20&nbsp;His parents answered, &ldquo;We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;&nbsp;21&nbsp;but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.&rdquo;&nbsp;22&nbsp;His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus&nbsp;to be the Messiah&nbsp;would be put out of the synagogue.&nbsp;23&nbsp;Therefore his parents said, &ldquo;He is of age; ask him.&rdquo;</p>
<p>24&nbsp;So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, &ldquo;Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.&rdquo;&nbsp;25&nbsp;He answered, &ldquo;I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.&rdquo;&nbsp;26&nbsp;They said to him, &ldquo;What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?&rdquo;&nbsp;27&nbsp;He answered them, &ldquo;I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?&rdquo;&nbsp;28&nbsp;Then they reviled him, saying, &ldquo;You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.&nbsp;29&nbsp;We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.&rdquo;&nbsp;30&nbsp;The man answered, &ldquo;Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.&nbsp;31&nbsp;We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.&nbsp;32&nbsp;Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.&nbsp;33&nbsp;If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.&rdquo;&nbsp;34&nbsp;They answered him, &ldquo;You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?&rdquo; And they drove him out.</p>
<p>35&nbsp;Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, &ldquo;Do you believe in the Son of Man?&rdquo;&nbsp;36&nbsp;He answered, &ldquo;And who is he, sir?&nbsp;Tell me, so that I may believe in him.&rdquo;&nbsp;37&nbsp;Jesus said to him, &ldquo;You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.&rdquo;&nbsp;38&nbsp;He said, &ldquo;Lord,&nbsp;I believe.&rdquo; And he worshiped him.&nbsp;39&nbsp;Jesus said, &ldquo;I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.&rdquo;&nbsp;40&nbsp;Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, &ldquo;Surely we are not blind, are we?&rdquo;&nbsp;41&nbsp;Jesus said to them, &ldquo;If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, &lsquo;We see,&rsquo; your sin remains.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0091
Fri, 20 Jul 2018 10:56:50 -0500Matthew 20:1-160090<p>Matthew 20:1-16</p>
<p>20&nbsp;&ldquo;For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.&nbsp;2&nbsp;After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage,&nbsp;he sent them into his vineyard.&nbsp;3&nbsp;When he went out about nine o&rsquo;clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace;&nbsp;4&nbsp;and he said to them, &lsquo;You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.&rsquo; So they went.&nbsp;5&nbsp;When he went out again about noon and about three o&rsquo;clock, he did the same.&nbsp;6&nbsp;And about five o&rsquo;clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, &lsquo;Why are you standing here idle all day?&rsquo;&nbsp;7&nbsp;They said to him, &lsquo;Because no one has hired us.&rsquo; He said to them, &lsquo;You also go into the vineyard.&rsquo;&nbsp;8&nbsp;When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, &lsquo;Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.&rsquo;&nbsp;9&nbsp;When those hired about five o&rsquo;clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.&nbsp;10&nbsp;Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage.&nbsp;11&nbsp;And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner,&nbsp;12&nbsp;saying, &lsquo;These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.&rsquo;&nbsp;13&nbsp;But he replied to one of them, &lsquo;Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?&nbsp;14&nbsp;Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you.&nbsp;15&nbsp;Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?&rsquo;&nbsp;16&nbsp;So the last will be first, and the first will be last.&rdquo;</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0090
Mon, 16 Jul 2018 13:45:45 -0500Matthew 19:13-150089<p>Matthew 19:13-15&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Jesus Blesses Little Children</h3>
<p>13&nbsp;Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them;&nbsp;14&nbsp;but Jesus said, &ldquo;Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.&rdquo;&nbsp;15&nbsp;And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0089
Fri, 06 Jul 2018 11:36:03 -0500Matthew 14:22-330088<p>Matthew 14:22-33</p>
<h3>Jesus Walks on the Water</h3>
<p>22&nbsp;Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.&nbsp;23&nbsp;And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,&nbsp;24&nbsp;but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14%3A22-33&amp;version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-23622a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]&nbsp;for the wind was against them.&nbsp;25&nbsp;And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea.&nbsp;26&nbsp;But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, &ldquo;It is a ghost!&rdquo; And they cried out in fear.&nbsp;27&nbsp;But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, &ldquo;Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.&rdquo;</p>
<p>28&nbsp;Peter answered him, &ldquo;Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.&rdquo;&nbsp;29&nbsp;He said, &ldquo;Come.&rdquo; So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.&nbsp;30&nbsp;But when he noticed the strong wind,[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14%3A22-33&amp;version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-23628b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]&nbsp;he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, &ldquo;Lord, save me!&rdquo;&nbsp;31&nbsp;Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, &ldquo;You of little faith, why did you doubt?&rdquo;&nbsp;32&nbsp;When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.&nbsp;33&nbsp;And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, &ldquo;Truly you are the Son of God.&rdquo;</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0088
Fri, 29 Jun 2018 13:13:14 -0500Matthew 5:13-160087<p>Matthew 5:13-16&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Salt and Light</h3>
<p>13&nbsp;&ldquo;You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.</p>
<p>14&nbsp;&ldquo;You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.&nbsp;15&nbsp;No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.&nbsp;16&nbsp;In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0087
Fri, 22 Jun 2018 11:16:06 -0500Matthew 7:12-290086<p>Matthew 7:12-29&nbsp;</p>
<h3>The Golden Rule</h3>
<p>12&nbsp;&ldquo;In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.</p>
<h3>The Narrow Gate</h3>
<p>13&nbsp;&ldquo;Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A12-29&amp;version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-23330a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]&nbsp;that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.&nbsp;14&nbsp;For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.</p>
<h3>A Tree and Its Fruit</h3>
<p>15&nbsp;&ldquo;Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep&rsquo;s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.&nbsp;16&nbsp;You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?&nbsp;17&nbsp;In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.&nbsp;18&nbsp;A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.&nbsp;19&nbsp;Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.&nbsp;20&nbsp;Thus you will know them by their fruits.</p>
<h3>Concerning Self-Deception</h3>
<p>21&nbsp;&ldquo;Not everyone who says to me, &lsquo;Lord, Lord,&rsquo; will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.&nbsp;22&nbsp;On that day many will say to me, &lsquo;Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?&rsquo;&nbsp;23&nbsp;Then I will declare to them, &lsquo;I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.&rsquo;</p>
<h3>Hearers and Doers</h3>
<p>24&nbsp;&ldquo;Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.&nbsp;25&nbsp;The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.&nbsp;26&nbsp;And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand.&nbsp;27&nbsp;The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell&mdash;and great was its fall!&rdquo;</p>
<p>28&nbsp;Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching,&nbsp;29&nbsp;for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0086
Fri, 15 Jun 2018 10:02:35 -05001 Kings 19:9-180085<p>1 Kings 19:9-18&nbsp;</p>
<p>9&nbsp;At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.</p>
<p>Then the word of the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;came to him, saying, &ldquo;What are you doing here, Elijah?&rdquo;&nbsp;10&nbsp;He answered, &ldquo;I have been very zealous for the&nbsp;Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.&rdquo;</p>
<h3>Elijah Meets God at Horeb</h3>
<p>11&nbsp;He said, &ldquo;Go out and stand on the mountain before the&nbsp;Lord, for the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;is about to pass by.&rdquo; Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the&nbsp;Lord, but the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;was not in the earthquake;&nbsp;12&nbsp;and after the earthquake a fire, but the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.&nbsp;13&nbsp;When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, &ldquo;What are you doing here, Elijah?&rdquo;&nbsp;14&nbsp;He answered, &ldquo;I have been very zealous for the&nbsp;Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.&rdquo;&nbsp;15&nbsp;Then the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;said to him, &ldquo;Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram.&nbsp;16&nbsp;Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.&nbsp;17&nbsp;Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill.&nbsp;18&nbsp;Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.&rdquo;</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0085
Fri, 08 Jun 2018 08:54:22 -05001 Kings 19:1-90084<p>1 Kings 19:1-9&nbsp;</p>
<p>19&nbsp;Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.&nbsp;2&nbsp;Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, &ldquo;So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.&rdquo;&nbsp;3&nbsp;Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there.</p>
<p>4&nbsp;But he himself went a day&rsquo;s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: &ldquo;It is enough; now, O&nbsp;Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.&rdquo;&nbsp;5&nbsp;Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, &ldquo;Get up and eat.&rdquo;&nbsp;6&nbsp;He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again.&nbsp;7&nbsp;The angel of the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;came a second time, touched him, and said, &ldquo;Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.&rdquo;&nbsp;8&nbsp;He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.&nbsp;9&nbsp;At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.</p>
<p>Then the word of the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;came to him, saying, &ldquo;What are you doing here, Elijah?&rdquo;</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0084
Fri, 01 Jun 2018 09:14:14 -05001 Kings 18:20-400083<p>1 Kings 18:20-40&nbsp;</p>
<p>20&nbsp;So Ahab sent to all the Israelites, and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel.&nbsp;21&nbsp;Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, &ldquo;How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.&rdquo; The people did not answer him a word.&nbsp;22&nbsp;Then Elijah said to the people, &ldquo;I, even I only, am left a prophet of the&nbsp;Lord; but Baal&rsquo;s prophets number four hundred fifty.&nbsp;23&nbsp;Let two bulls be given to us; let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it; I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it.&nbsp;24&nbsp;Then you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the&nbsp;Lord; the god who answers by fire is indeed God.&rdquo; All the people answered, &ldquo;Well spoken!&rdquo;&nbsp;25&nbsp;Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, &ldquo;Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many; then call on the name of your god, but put no fire to it.&rdquo;&nbsp;26&nbsp;So they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, crying, &ldquo;O Baal, answer us!&rdquo; But there was no voice, and no answer. They limped about the altar that they had made.&nbsp;27&nbsp;At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, &ldquo;Cry aloud! Surely he is a god; either he is meditating, or he has wandered away, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.&rdquo;&nbsp;28&nbsp;Then they cried aloud and, as was their custom, they cut themselves with swords and lances until the blood gushed out over them.&nbsp;29&nbsp;As midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice, no answer, and no response.</p>
<p>30&nbsp;Then Elijah said to all the people, &ldquo;Come closer to me&rdquo;; and all the people came closer to him. First he repaired the altar of the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;that had been thrown down;&nbsp;31&nbsp;Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;came, saying, &ldquo;Israel shall be your name&rdquo;;&nbsp;32&nbsp;with the stones he built an altar in the name of the&nbsp;Lord. Then he made a trench around the altar, large enough to contain two measures of seed.&nbsp;33&nbsp;Next he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, &ldquo;Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.&rdquo;&nbsp;34&nbsp;Then he said, &ldquo;Do it a second time&rdquo;; and they did it a second time. Again he said, &ldquo;Do it a third time&rdquo;; and they did it a third time,&nbsp;35&nbsp;so that the water ran all around the altar, and filled the trench also with water.</p>
<p>36&nbsp;At the time of the offering of the oblation, the prophet Elijah came near and said, &ldquo;O&nbsp;Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your bidding.&nbsp;37&nbsp;Answer me, O&nbsp;Lord, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O&nbsp;Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.&rdquo;&nbsp;38&nbsp;Then the fire of the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and even licked up the water that was in the trench.&nbsp;39&nbsp;When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, &ldquo;The&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;indeed is God; the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;indeed is God.&rdquo;&nbsp;40&nbsp;Elijah said to them, &ldquo;Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.&rdquo; Then they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishon, and killed them there.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0083
Fri, 25 May 2018 08:35:33 -05001 Kings 17:1-90082<p>1 Kings 17:1-9&nbsp;</p>
<p>17&nbsp;Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe&nbsp;in Gilead, said to Ahab, &ldquo;As the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.&rdquo;&nbsp;2&nbsp;The word of the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;came to him, saying,&nbsp;3&nbsp;&ldquo;Go from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.&nbsp;4&nbsp;You shall drink from the wadi, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.&rdquo;&nbsp;5&nbsp;So he went and did according to the word of the&nbsp;Lord; he went and lived by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.&nbsp;6&nbsp;The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the wadi.&nbsp;7&nbsp;But after a while the wadi dried up, because there was no rain in the land.</p>
<p>8&nbsp;Then the word of the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;came to him, saying,&nbsp;9&nbsp;&ldquo;Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.&rdquo;</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0082
Fri, 25 May 2018 08:33:47 -0500Luke 13:31-350081<h1>Luke 13:31-35&nbsp;</h1>
<p>31&nbsp;At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, &ldquo;Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.&rdquo;&nbsp;32&nbsp;He said to them, &ldquo;Go and tell that fox for me,&lsquo;Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.&nbsp;33&nbsp;Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.&rsquo;&nbsp;34&nbsp;Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!&nbsp;35&nbsp;See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes whenyou say, &lsquo;Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0081
Sun, 13 May 2018 08:31:15 -0500Luke 22:7-200080<p>Luke 22:7-20&nbsp;</p>
<p>7&nbsp;Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.&nbsp;8&nbsp;So Jesus&nbsp;sent Peter and John, saying, &ldquo;Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.&rdquo;&nbsp;9&nbsp;They asked him, &ldquo;Where do you want us to make preparations for it?&rdquo;&nbsp;10&nbsp;&ldquo;Listen,&rdquo; he said to them, &ldquo;when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters&nbsp;11&nbsp;and say to the owner of the house, &lsquo;The teacher asks you, &ldquo;Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?&rdquo;&rsquo;&nbsp;12&nbsp;He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.&rdquo;&nbsp;13&nbsp;So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.</p>
<p>14&nbsp;When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him.&nbsp;15&nbsp;He said to them, &ldquo;I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;&nbsp;16&nbsp;for I tell you, I will not eat it&nbsp;until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.&rdquo;&nbsp;17&nbsp;Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, &ldquo;Take this and divide it among yourselves;&nbsp;18&nbsp;for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.&rdquo;&nbsp;19&nbsp;Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, &ldquo;This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.&rdquo;&nbsp;20&nbsp;And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, &ldquo;This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0080
Thu, 03 May 2018 15:42:02 -0500Matthew 9:9-130079<p>Matthew 9:9-13&nbsp;</p>
<p>9&nbsp;As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, &ldquo;Follow me.&rdquo; And he got up and followed him.</p>
<p>10&nbsp;And as he sat at dinner&nbsp;in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting&nbsp;with him and his disciples.&nbsp;11&nbsp;When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, &ldquo;Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?&rdquo;&nbsp;12&nbsp;But when he heard this, he said, &ldquo;Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.&nbsp;13&nbsp;Go and learn what this means, &lsquo;I desire mercy, not sacrifice.&rsquo; For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.&rdquo;</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0079
Fri, 27 Apr 2018 10:54:09 -0500Luke 10:25-370078<p>Luke 10:25-37</p>
<p>25&nbsp;Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus.&nbsp;&ldquo;Teacher,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;what must I do to inherit eternal life?&rdquo;&nbsp;26&nbsp;He said to him, &ldquo;What is written in the law? What do you read there?&rdquo;&nbsp;27&nbsp;He answered, &ldquo;You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.&rdquo;&nbsp;28&nbsp;And he said to him, &ldquo;You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.&rdquo;</p>
<p>29&nbsp;But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, &ldquo;And who is my neighbor?&rdquo;&nbsp;30&nbsp;Jesus replied, &ldquo;A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.&nbsp;31&nbsp;Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.&nbsp;32&nbsp;So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.&nbsp;33&nbsp;But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.&nbsp;34&nbsp;He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.&nbsp;35&nbsp;The next day he took out two denarii,&nbsp;gave them to the innkeeper, and said, &lsquo;Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.&rsquo;&nbsp;36&nbsp;Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?&rdquo;&nbsp;37&nbsp;He said, &ldquo;The one who showed him mercy.&rdquo; Jesus said to him, &ldquo;Go and do likewise.&rdquo;</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0078
Fri, 20 Apr 2018 10:08:36 -0500Luke 18:9-140077<p>Luke 18:9-14&nbsp;</p>
<p>9&nbsp;He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:&nbsp;10&nbsp;&ldquo;Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.&nbsp;11&nbsp;The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, &lsquo;God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.&nbsp;12&nbsp;I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.&rsquo;&nbsp;13&nbsp;But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, &lsquo;God, be merciful to me, a sinner!&rsquo;&nbsp;14&nbsp;I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.&rdquo;</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0077
Fri, 13 Apr 2018 11:05:40 -0500Matthew 7:1-50076<p>Matthew 7:1-5</p>
<p>7&nbsp;&ldquo;Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.&nbsp;2&nbsp;For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.&nbsp;3&nbsp;Why do you see the speck in your neighbor&rsquo;s&nbsp;eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?&nbsp;4&nbsp;Or how can you say to your neighbor,&nbsp;&lsquo;Let me take the speck out of your eye,&rsquo; while the log is in your own eye?&nbsp;5&nbsp;You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor&rsquo;s&nbsp;eye.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0076
Mon, 09 Apr 2018 09:50:53 -0500Psalm 470075<p>Psalm 47&nbsp;</p>
<p>To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.</p>
<p>1&nbsp;Clap your hands, all you peoples;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;shout to God with loud songs of joy.<br />
2&nbsp;For the&nbsp;Lord, the Most High, is awesome,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a great king over all the earth.<br />
3&nbsp;He subdued peoples under us,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and nations under our feet.<br />
4&nbsp;He chose our heritage for us,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;the pride of Jacob whom he loves.Selah</p>
<p>5&nbsp;God has gone up with a shout,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;with the sound of a trumpet.<br />
6&nbsp;Sing praises to God, sing praises;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;sing praises to our King, sing praises.<br />
7&nbsp;For God is the king of all the earth;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;sing praises with a psalm.</p>
<p>8&nbsp;God is king over the nations;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;God sits on his holy throne.<br />
9&nbsp;The princes of the peoples gather<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;as the people of the God of Abraham.<br />
For the shields of the earth belong to God;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;he is highly exalted.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0075
Thu, 29 Mar 2018 13:10:57 -0500Psalm 1300074<p>Psalm 130</p>
<p>A Song of Ascents.</p>
<div>
<p>1&nbsp;Out of the depths I cry to you, O&nbsp;Lord.<br />
2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lord, hear my voice!<br />
Let your ears be attentive<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;to the voice of my supplications!</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>3&nbsp;If you, O&nbsp;Lord, should mark iniquities,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lord, who could stand?<br />
4&nbsp;But there is forgiveness with you,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;so that you may be revered.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>5&nbsp;I wait for the&nbsp;Lord, my soul waits,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and in his word I hope;<br />
6&nbsp;my soul waits for the Lord<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;more than those who watch for the morning,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;more than those who watch for the morning.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>7&nbsp;O Israel, hope in the&nbsp;Lord!<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For with the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;there is steadfast love,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and with him is great power to redeem.<br />
8&nbsp;It is he who will redeem Israel<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;from all its iniquities.</p>
</div>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0074
Thu, 22 Mar 2018 15:20:05 -0500Psalm 320073<p>Psalm 32</p>
<div>
<p>1&nbsp;Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;whose sin is covered.<br />
2&nbsp;Happy are those to whom the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;imputes no iniquity,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and in whose spirit there is no deceit.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>3&nbsp;While I kept silence, my body wasted away<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;through my groaning all day long.<br />
4&nbsp;For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;my strength was dried up&nbsp;as by the heat of summer.Selah</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>5&nbsp;Then I acknowledged my sin to you,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and I did not hide my iniquity;<br />
I said, &ldquo;I will confess my transgressions to the&nbsp;Lord,&rdquo;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and you forgave the guilt of my sin.Selah</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>6&nbsp;Therefore let all who are faithful<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;offer prayer to you;<br />
at a time of distress,&nbsp;the rush of mighty waters<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;shall not reach them.<br />
7&nbsp;You are a hiding place for me;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;you preserve me from trouble;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.Selah</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>8&nbsp;I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I will counsel you with my eye upon you.<br />
9&nbsp;Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;else it will not stay near you.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>10&nbsp;Many are the torments of the wicked,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the&nbsp;Lord.<br />
11&nbsp;Be glad in the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;and rejoice, O righteous,</p>
</div>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0073
Wed, 21 Mar 2018 08:37:35 -0500Psalm 1390072<h1>Psalm 139&nbsp;</h1>
<h4>To the leader. Of David. A Psalm.</h4>
<div>
<p>1&nbsp;O&nbsp;Lord, you have searched me and known me.<br />
2&nbsp;You know when I sit down and when I rise up;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;you discern my thoughts from far away.<br />
3&nbsp;You search out my path and my lying down,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and are acquainted with all my ways.<br />
4&nbsp;Even before a word is on my tongue,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;O&nbsp;Lord, you know it completely.<br />
5&nbsp;You hem me in, behind and before,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and lay your hand upon me.<br />
6&nbsp;Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;it is so high that I cannot attain it.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>7&nbsp;Where can I go from your spirit?<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Or where can I flee from your presence?<br />
8&nbsp;If I ascend to heaven, you are there;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.<br />
9&nbsp;If I take the wings of the morning<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,<br />
10&nbsp;even there your hand shall lead me,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and your right hand shall hold me fast.<br />
11&nbsp;If I say, &ldquo;Surely the darkness shall cover me,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and the light around me become night,&rdquo;<br />
12&nbsp;even the darkness is not dark to you;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;the night is as bright as the day,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;for darkness is as light to you.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>13&nbsp;For it was you who formed my inward parts;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;you knit me together in my mother&rsquo;s womb.<br />
14&nbsp;I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Wonderful are your works;<br />
that I know very well.<br />
15&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;My frame was not hidden from you,<br />
when I was being made in secret,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;intricately woven in the depths of the earth.<br />
16&nbsp;Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.<br />
In your book were written<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;all the days that were formed for me,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;when none of them as yet existed.<br />
17&nbsp;How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;How vast is the sum of them!<br />
18&nbsp;I try to count them&mdash;they are more than the sand;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I come to the end&mdash;I am still with you.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>19&nbsp;O that you would kill the wicked, O God,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me&mdash;<br />
20&nbsp;those who speak of you maliciously,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and lift themselves up against you for evil!<br />
21&nbsp;Do I not hate those who hate you, O&nbsp;Lord?<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?<br />
22&nbsp;I hate them with perfect hatred;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I count them my enemies.<br />
23&nbsp;Search me, O God, and know my heart;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;test me and know my thoughts.<br />
24&nbsp;See if there is any wicked&nbsp;way in me,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and lead me in the way everlasting.</p>
</div>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0072
Wed, 07 Mar 2018 13:48:28 -0600Psalm 106:1-14, 36-480071<h4>Psalm 106:1-14&nbsp;</h4>
<p>1&nbsp;Praise the&nbsp;Lord!<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;O give thanks to the&nbsp;Lord, for he is good;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;for his steadfast love endures forever.<br />
2&nbsp;Who can utter the mighty doings of the&nbsp;Lord,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;or declare all his praise?<br />
3&nbsp;Happy are those who observe justice,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;who do righteousness at all times.</p>
<p>4&nbsp;Remember me, O&nbsp;Lord, when you show favor to your people;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;help me when you deliver them;<br />
5&nbsp;that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;that I may glory in your heritage.</p>
<p>6&nbsp;Both we and our ancestors have sinned;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly.<br />
7&nbsp;Our ancestors, when they were in Egypt,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;did not consider your wonderful works;<br />
they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;but rebelled against the Most High&nbsp;at the Red Sea.<br />
8&nbsp;Yet he saved them for his name&rsquo;s sake,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;so that he might make known his mighty power.<br />
9&nbsp;He rebuked the Red Sea,&nbsp;and it became dry;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;he led them through the deep as through a desert.<br />
10&nbsp;So he saved them from the hand of the foe,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and delivered them from the hand of the enemy.<br />
11&nbsp;The waters covered their adversaries;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;not one of them was left.<br />
12&nbsp;Then they believed his words;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;they sang his praise.</p>
<p>13&nbsp;But they soon forgot his works;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;they did not wait for his counsel.<br />
14&nbsp;But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and put God to the test in the desert;</p>
<h4>Psalm 106:36-48&nbsp;</h4>
<p>36&nbsp;They served their idols,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;which became a snare to them.<br />
37&nbsp;They sacrificed their sons<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and their daughters to the demons;<br />
38&nbsp;they poured out innocent blood,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;the blood of their sons and daughters,<br />
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and the land was polluted with blood.<br />
39&nbsp;Thus they became unclean by their acts,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and prostituted themselves in their doings.</p>
<p>40&nbsp;Then the anger of the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;was kindled against his people,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and he abhorred his heritage;<br />
41&nbsp;he gave them into the hand of the nations,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;so that those who hated them ruled over them.<br />
42&nbsp;Their enemies oppressed them,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and they were brought into subjection under their power.<br />
43&nbsp;Many times he delivered them,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;but they were rebellious in their purposes,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and were brought low through their iniquity.<br />
44&nbsp;Nevertheless he regarded their distress<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;when he heard their cry.<br />
45&nbsp;For their sake he remembered his covenant,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and showed compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love.<br />
46&nbsp;He caused them to be pitied<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;by all who held them captive.</p>
<p>47&nbsp;Save us, O&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;our God,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and gather us from among the nations,<br />
that we may give thanks to your holy name<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and glory in your praise.</p>
<p>48&nbsp;Blessed be the&nbsp;Lord, the God of Israel,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;from everlasting to everlasting.<br />
And let all the people say, &ldquo;Amen.&rdquo;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Praise the&nbsp;Lord!</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0071
Fri, 02 Mar 2018 11:10:28 -0600Psalm 1020070<p>Psalm 102&nbsp;</p>
<p>A prayer of one afflicted, when faint and pleading before the&nbsp;Lord.</p>
<p>1&nbsp;Hear my prayer, O&nbsp;Lord;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;let my cry come to you.<br />
2&nbsp;Do not hide your face from me<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;in the day of my distress.<br />
Incline your ear to me;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;answer me speedily in the day when I call.</p>
<p>3&nbsp;For my days pass away like smoke,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and my bones burn like a furnace.<br />
4&nbsp;My heart is stricken and withered like grass;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I am too wasted to eat my bread.<br />
5&nbsp;Because of my loud groaning<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;my bones cling to my skin.<br />
6&nbsp;I am like an owl of the wilderness,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;like a little owl of the waste places.<br />
7&nbsp;I lie awake;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.<br />
8&nbsp;All day long my enemies taunt me;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;those who deride me use my name for a curse.<br />
9&nbsp;For I eat ashes like bread,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and mingle tears with my drink,<br />
10&nbsp;because of your indignation and anger;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;for you have lifted me up and thrown me aside.<br />
11&nbsp;My days are like an evening shadow;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I wither away like grass.</p>
<p>12&nbsp;But you, O&nbsp;Lord, are enthroned forever;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;your name endures to all generations.<br />
13&nbsp;You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;for it is time to favor it;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;the appointed time has come.<br />
14&nbsp;For your servants hold its stones dear,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and have pity on its dust.<br />
15&nbsp;The nations will fear the name of the&nbsp;Lord,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and all the kings of the earth your glory.<br />
16&nbsp;For the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;will build up Zion;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;he will appear in his glory.<br />
17&nbsp;He will regard the prayer of the destitute,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and will not despise their prayer.</p>
<p>18&nbsp;Let this be recorded for a generation to come,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;so that a people yet unborn may praise the&nbsp;Lord:<br />
19&nbsp;that he looked down from his holy height,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;from heaven the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;looked at the earth,<br />
20&nbsp;to hear the groans of the prisoners,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;to set free those who were doomed to die;<br />
21&nbsp;so that the name of the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;may be declared in Zion,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and his praise in Jerusalem,<br />
22&nbsp;when peoples gather together,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and kingdoms, to worship the&nbsp;Lord.</p>
<p>23&nbsp;He has broken my strength in midcourse;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;he has shortened my days.<br />
24&nbsp;&ldquo;O my God,&rdquo; I say, &ldquo;do not take me away<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;at the midpoint of my life,<br />
you whose years endure<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;throughout all generations.&rdquo;</p>
<p>25&nbsp;Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and the heavens are the work of your hands.<br />
26&nbsp;They will perish, but you endure;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;they will all wear out like a garment.<br />
You change them like clothing, and they pass away;<br />
27&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;but you are the same, and your years have no end.<br />
28&nbsp;The children of your servants shall live secure;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;their offspring shall be established in your presence.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0070
Fri, 23 Feb 2018 11:35:53 -0600Psalm 510069<p>Psalm 51&nbsp;</p>
<p>To the leader. A Psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.</p>
<p>1&nbsp;Have mercy on me, O God,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;according to your steadfast love;<br />
according to your abundant mercy<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;blot out my transgressions.<br />
2&nbsp;Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and cleanse me from my sin.</p>
<p>3&nbsp;For I know my transgressions,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and my sin is ever before me.<br />
4&nbsp;Against you, you alone, have I sinned,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and done what is evil in your sight,<br />
so that you are justified in your sentence<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and blameless when you pass judgment.<br />
5&nbsp;Indeed, I was born guilty,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a sinner when my mother conceived me.</p>
<p>6&nbsp;You desire truth in the inward being;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.<br />
7&nbsp;Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.<br />
8&nbsp;Let me hear joy and gladness;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.<br />
9&nbsp;Hide your face from my sins,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and blot out all my iniquities.</p>
<p>10&nbsp;Create in me a clean heart, O God,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and put a new and right&nbsp;spirit within me.<br />
11&nbsp;Do not cast me away from your presence,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and do not take your holy spirit from me.<br />
12&nbsp;Restore to me the joy of your salvation,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and sustain in me a willing&nbsp;spirit.</p>
<p>13&nbsp;Then I will teach transgressors your ways,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and sinners will return to you.<br />
14&nbsp;Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;O God of my salvation,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.</p>
<p>15&nbsp;O Lord, open my lips,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and my mouth will declare your praise.<br />
16&nbsp;For you have no delight in sacrifice;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.<br />
17&nbsp;The sacrifice acceptable to God&nbsp;is a broken spirit;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.</p>
<p>18&nbsp;Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,<br />
19&nbsp;then you will delight in right sacrifices,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;then bulls will be offered on your altar.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0069
Fri, 16 Feb 2018 11:09:48 -0600Philippians 3:2-21; 4:4-70068<h1 class="passage-display" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 20px; font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; letter-spacing: normal;"><span class="passage-display-bcv" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 6px;">Philippians 3:2-21</span>&nbsp;<span class="passage-display-version" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; display: inline;">New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)</span></h1>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Phil-3-2" id="en-NRSV-29407" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">2&nbsp;</span>Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh!&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-3-3" id="en-NRSV-29408" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">3&nbsp;</span>For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of Godand boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh&mdash;&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-3-4" id="en-NRSV-29409" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">4&nbsp;</span>even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh.</span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Phil-3-4" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more:&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-3-5" id="en-NRSV-29410" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">5&nbsp;</span>circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-3-6" id="en-NRSV-29411" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">6&nbsp;</span>as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.</span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Phil-3-7" id="en-NRSV-29412" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">7&nbsp;</span>Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-3-8" id="en-NRSV-29413" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">8&nbsp;</span>More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-3-9" id="en-NRSV-29414" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">9&nbsp;</span>and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ,&nbsp;the righteousness from God based on faith.&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-3-10" id="en-NRSV-29415" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">10&nbsp;</span>I want to know Christ&nbsp;and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death,&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-3-11" id="en-NRSV-29416" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">11&nbsp;</span>if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.</span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Phil-3-12" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">12&nbsp;</span>Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal;&nbsp;but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-3-13" id="en-NRSV-29418" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">13&nbsp;</span>Beloved,&nbsp;I do not consider that I have made it my own;&nbsp;but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-3-14" id="en-NRSV-29419" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">14&nbsp;</span>I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly&nbsp;call of God in Christ Jesus.&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-3-15" id="en-NRSV-29420" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">15&nbsp;</span>Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you.&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-3-16" id="en-NRSV-29421" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">16&nbsp;</span>Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.</span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Phil-3-17" id="en-NRSV-29422" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">17&nbsp;</span>Brothers and sisters,&nbsp;join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-3-18" id="en-NRSV-29423" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">18&nbsp;</span>For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears.&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-3-19" id="en-NRSV-29424" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">19&nbsp;</span>Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-3-20" id="en-NRSV-29425" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">20&nbsp;</span>But our citizenship&nbsp;is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-3-21" id="en-NRSV-29426" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">21&nbsp;</span>He will transform the body of our humiliation&nbsp;that it may be conformed to the body of his glory,&nbsp;by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.</span></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">&nbsp;</p>
<h1 class="passage-display" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 20px; font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; letter-spacing: normal;"><span class="passage-display-bcv" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 6px;">Philippians 4:4-7</span>&nbsp;<span class="passage-display-version" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; display: inline;">New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)</span></h1>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Phil-4-4" id="en-NRSV-29430" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">4&nbsp;</span>Rejoice&nbsp;in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-4-5" id="en-NRSV-29431" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">5&nbsp;</span>Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-4-6" id="en-NRSV-29432" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">6&nbsp;</span>Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.&nbsp;</span><span class="text Phil-4-7" id="en-NRSV-29433" style="box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">7&nbsp;</span>And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</span></p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0068
Fri, 09 Feb 2018 11:45:01 -0600Philippians 2:1-150067<p>Philippians 2:1-15&nbsp;</p>
<p>2&nbsp;If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy,&nbsp;2&nbsp;make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.&nbsp;3&nbsp;Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.&nbsp;4&nbsp;Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.&nbsp;5&nbsp;Let the same mind be in you that was&nbsp;in Christ Jesus,</p>
<div>
<p>6&nbsp;who, though he was in the form of God,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;did not regard equality with God<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;as something to be exploited,<br />
7&nbsp;but emptied himself,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;taking the form of a slave,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;being born in human likeness.<br />
And being found in human form,<br />
8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;he humbled himself<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and became obedient to the point of death&mdash;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;even death on a cross.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>9&nbsp;Therefore God also highly exalted him<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and gave him the name<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;that is above every name,<br />
10&nbsp;so that at the name of Jesus<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;every knee should bend,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;in heaven and on earth and under the earth,<br />
11&nbsp;and every tongue should confess<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;that Jesus Christ is Lord,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;to the glory of God the Father.</p>
</div>
<p>12&nbsp;Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;&nbsp;13&nbsp;for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.</p>
<p>14&nbsp;Do all things without murmuring and arguing,&nbsp;15&nbsp;so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0067
Mon, 05 Feb 2018 09:57:02 -0600Philippians 1:12-270066<p>Philippians 1:12-27</p>
<p>12&nbsp;I want you to know, beloved,&nbsp;that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel,&nbsp;13&nbsp;so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard&nbsp;and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ;&nbsp;14&nbsp;and most of the brothers and sisters,&nbsp;having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word&nbsp;with greater boldness and without fear.</p>
<p>15&nbsp;Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill.&nbsp;16&nbsp;These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel;&nbsp;17&nbsp;the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment.&nbsp;18&nbsp;What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice.</p>
<p>Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,&nbsp;19&nbsp;for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance.&nbsp;20&nbsp;It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death.&nbsp;21&nbsp;For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.&nbsp;22&nbsp;If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer.&nbsp;23&nbsp;I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better;&nbsp;24&nbsp;but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.&nbsp;25&nbsp;Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith,&nbsp;26&nbsp;so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.</p>
<p>27&nbsp;Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel,</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0066
Mon, 29 Jan 2018 08:25:44 -0600Ecclesiastes 4:7-12; 1 Corinthians 13:4-70065<p>Ecclesiastes 4:7-12</p>
<p>7&nbsp;Again, I saw vanity under the sun:&nbsp;8&nbsp;the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. &ldquo;For whom am I toiling,&rdquo; they ask, &ldquo;and depriving myself of pleasure?&rdquo; This also is vanity and an unhappy business.</p>
<p>9&nbsp;Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.&nbsp;10&nbsp;For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help.&nbsp;11&nbsp;Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?&nbsp;12&nbsp;And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.</p>
<p>1 Corinthians 13:4-7</p>
<p>4&nbsp;Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant&nbsp;5&nbsp;or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;&nbsp;6&nbsp;it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.&nbsp;7&nbsp;It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0065
Mon, 22 Jan 2018 13:47:51 -0600Matthew 27:45-46; Genesis 2:18-250064<p>Matthew 27:45-46&nbsp;</p>
<p>45&nbsp;From noon on, darkness came over the whole land&nbsp;until three in the afternoon.&nbsp;46&nbsp;And about three o&rsquo;clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, &ldquo;Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?&rdquo; that is, &ldquo;My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?&rdquo;</p>
<p>Genesis 2:18-25</p>
<p>18&nbsp;Then the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;God said, &ldquo;It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.&rdquo;&nbsp;19&nbsp;So out of the ground the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.&nbsp;20&nbsp;The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man&nbsp;there was not found a helper as his partner.&nbsp;21&nbsp;So the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.&nbsp;22&nbsp;And the rib that the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.&nbsp;23&nbsp;Then the man said,</p>
<p>&ldquo;This at last is bone of my bones<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and flesh of my flesh;<br />
this one shall be called Woman,<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;for out of Man&nbsp;this one was taken.&rdquo;</p>
<p>24&nbsp;Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.&nbsp;25&nbsp;And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0064
Tue, 16 Jan 2018 13:55:00 -0600John 1:6-130063<p>John 1:6-13</p>
<p>6&nbsp;There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.&nbsp;7&nbsp;He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.&nbsp;8&nbsp;He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.&nbsp;9&nbsp;The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.</p>
<p>10&nbsp;He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.&nbsp;11&nbsp;He came to what was his own,&nbsp;and his own people did not accept him.&nbsp;12&nbsp;But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,&nbsp;13&nbsp;who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.</p>https://www.hpumconline.org/scripture-unscripted/0063
Fri, 05 Jan 2018 08:28:59 -0600